The Mustache Parakeet's Diet

Mustache parakeets are among the most colorful of the species, with their many-shaded green bodies, pink chests, blue-gray heads and black swishes extending from under the beak to both cheeks like mustaches. Offering a wide variety of foods keeps them healthy and their plumage bright.

  1. Seeds and Pellets

    • In the wild, seeds, blossoms and fruit make up the mustache parakeet's diet. Alternating seeds and pellets will closely approximate this natural diet. These birds love seeds, but pellets are fortified with vitamins and minerals that seeds alone can't provide. Offering pellets early in the parakeet's life, and alternating seeds and pellets weekly, will increase the chances he'll accept them as part of his diet.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to his diet daily is vital. Asian birds like the mustache parakeet need more vitamin A than other parakeets, so feed them dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale, along with carrots, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes. Round out his diet with a variety of fruits and other vegetables with differing textures. You'll soon learn which foods are his favorites and can offer those more often. Some birds prefer to have a big chunk to pick at, while others like their fruits and veggies diced into pieces they can pick up.

    Hot Foods

    • Mustache parakeets enjoy many of the foods people eat, and they can eat warm foods, according to the parrot information website ParrotFeathers.com. including heated foods like squash, broccoli, carrots, brown rice, bread, pasta and well-cooked eggs. Be sure to cut up the food and check for hot spots that could burn the bird's tongue or face.

    Supplements

    • Wheat grass is touted as a helpful supplement for people and birds for promoting overall health. Its main ingredient, chlorophyll, cleanses the blood and liver, which is especially good for birds whose diet includes seeds. The wheat grass stalk also contains as much vitamin A as carrots, plus vitamin E, B vitamins and as much vitamin C as citrus fruit. Unlike humans, who have to use powdered or ground forms, birds extract the good stuff just by chewing the stalk. Spirulina is a blue-green algae that helps birds fight illness and can aid fertility. It's easy to sprinkle on birds' food. Check with an avian vet before adding any supplements.

    Foods to Avoid

    • Avocados, chocolate, raw peanuts, alcohol and foods that contain these ingredients should never be fed to any bird, including the mustache parakeet. These foods are known to be toxic to birds. Avoid feeding sugary and salty foods, too. These birds are medium-size, around 13 inches in length, and they should weigh at maturity 130 grams at most. A healthy diet is critical to their overall health, leaving no room for unhealthy foods.